British Forces Invasion of Iraq 2003
British Forces Invasion of Iraq 2003
British Forces Invasion of Iraq 2003
Maritime forces
British Maritime Component Commander - Rear Admiral David Snelson (succeeded by Major General Tony Milton 16 April 2003) Commander Amphibious Task Group - Commodore Jamie Miller HMS Ark Royal 4 Sea King ASaC7s of Flight A 849 Naval Air Squadron 5 Chinook HC2s of No. 18 Squadron RAF HMS Ocean 10 Sea King HC4s of 845 Naval Air Squadron 6 Gazelle AH1 of 847 Naval Air Squadron 6 Lynx AH7 of 847 Naval Air Squadron HMS Edinburgh 1 Lynx of 815 Naval Air Squadron HMS Liverpool 1 Lynx HAS3 of 815 Naval Air Squadron HMS York 1 Lynx of 815 Naval Air Squadron HMS Chatham 2 Lynx of 815 Naval Air Squadron HMS Richmond (to July 2003) 1 Lynx HMA8 of 815 Naval Air Squadron HMS Marlborough 1 Lynx of 815 Naval Air Squadron HMS Bangor HMS Blyth HMS Brocklesby HMS Grimsby HMS Ledbury HMS Sandown HMS Roebuck HMS Scott HMS Splendid HMS Turbulent
Support vessels of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary RFA Sir Bedivere RFA Sir Galahad RFA Sir Percivale
Operation Telic order of battle RFA Sir Tristram RFA Argus 5 Sea King HAS6s of 820 Naval Air Squadron RFA Bayleaf RFA Brambleleaf RFA Orangeleaf RFA Grey Rover RFA Fort Austin RFA Fort Rosalie RFA Fort Victoria
5 Merlin HM1s of 814 Naval Air Squadron RFA Diligence 2 Lynxes of 814 Naval Air Squadron ashore in Bahrain
Air forces
British Air Forces Component Commander - Air Vice Marshal Glenn Torpy Tornado GR4 Wing 1 - 18 Tornado GR4s and GR4As at Ali Al Salem Air Base, Kuwait Part of No. II Squadron Part of No. IX Squadron Part of No. XIII Squadron Part of No. 31 Squadron Part of No. 617 Squadron Tornado GR4 Wing 2 - 12 Tornado GR4s at Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar Part of No. 12 Squadron Part of No. 617 Squadron Harrier Wing 1 - 10 Harrier GR7s Part of No. I Squadron Part of No. 3 Squadron Harrier Wing 2 - 8 Harrier GR7s Part of No. IV Squadron at Al Jaber, Kuwait Tornado F3 Wing - 14 Tornado F3s at Prince Sultan in Saudi Arabia Part of No. 43 Squadron Part of No. 111 Squadron Nimrod MR2 Wing - 6 Nimrod MR2s Part of No. 120 Squadron Part of No. 201 Squadron Part of No. 206 Squadron Tristar Detachment - 4 Tristars of No. 216 Squadron VC10 Wing - 7 VC-10s at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia Part of No. 10 Squadron Part of No. 101 Squadron VC10 (for Aeromedical Evacuation) - 1 VC10 C1K at RAF Akrotiri from No. 10 Squadron Sentry Wing - 4 Sentry AEW1s Part of No. VIII Squadron Part of No. 23 Squadron
Operation Telic order of battle BAe 125 Detachment - 3 BAe 125s of No. XXXII Squadron Hercules Wing - 6 Hercules Canberra Detachment - 2 Canberra PR9s of No. 39 (1 PRU) Squadron (a photo-reconnaissance unit) Azraq Air Base, Jordan[1] Nimrod R1 Detachment - 1 Nimrod R1 of No. 51 Squadron Royal Air Force Regiment 2503 (City of Lincoln) Regiment, Royal Auxiliary Air Force Regiment 27 helicopters were also sent to the area, a mixture of Pumas and Chinooks, although the breakdown of types within that number is yet to be determined. Beyond the Hercules aircraft that were based in theatre, virtually the whole of the rest of the Hercules fleet, the C-17 fleet, and those Tristars and VC10s that had remained based in the UK were involved in transport operations to and from the Persian Gulf. Please help to fill in any gaps in the information as new material comes to light.
Ground forces
GOC 1st Armoured Division - Major General Robin Brims (succeeded by Major General Peter Wall) 1st Armoured Division Headquarters and Signal Regiment 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards 12th Regiment, Royal Artillery Joint Chemical, Biological, Radiation and Nuclear Regiment 1st Battalion, The Duke of Wellington's Regiment (West Riding) 28 Regiment Royal Engineers 1 General Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 2 Close Support Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps 2nd Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 1 Close Support Medical Regiment 5 General Support Medical Regiment 1 Regiment Royal Military Police A (Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry) Squadron and W (Westminster Dragoons) Squadron, Royal Yeomanry Elements of 5 (STA) Royal Regiment of Artillery Elements of 33 (EOD) Regiment Royal Engineers Elements of 32 Regiment Royal Artillery - Phoenix Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Elements of 30 Signal Regiment Elements of 14 Signal Regiment 3 Commando Brigade - Brigadier Jim Dutton
Headquarters 3 Commando Brigade 59 Independent (Commando) Squadron Royal Engineers 131 Independent (Commando) Squadron Royal Engineers (Volunteer) 9 (Commando) Assault Squadron 531 (Commando) Assault Squadron 29 (Commando) Regiment Royal Artillery - 18 105 mm howitzers 40 Commando, Royal Marines 42 Commando, Royal Marines 7 Armoured Brigade - Brigadier Graham Binns 7 Armoured Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron 32 (Armoured) Regiment Royal Engineers 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery - 32 AS-90 155mm howitzers
Operation Telic order of battle Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers and Greys) battlegroup, including elements of 1st Battalion Irish Guards - 42 Challenger 2s, 28 Warrior Tracked Armoured Vehicles (Warriors) 2nd Royal Tank Regiment battlegroup, including elements of 1st Battalion The Light Infantry - 42 Challenger 2s, 28 Warriors The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) battlegroup, including elements of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and 2nd Royal Tank Regiment- 28 Challenger 2s, 42 Warriors 1st Battalion Royal Regiment of Fusiliers battlegroup, including elements of Queen's Royal Lancers - 14 Challenger 2s, 42 Warriors 16 Air Assault Brigade - Brigadier 'Jacko' Page 16 Air Assault Brigade Headquarters 216 Parachute Squadron Royal Signals Pathfinder Platoon 1st Battalion, The Parachute Regiment 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment 7th Parachute Regiment Royal Horse Artillery 9 Parachute Squadron Royal Engineers 23 (Air Assault) Engineer Regiment D Squadron, Household Cavalry Regiment 7 Air Assault Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 16 Close Support Medical Regiment 156 Provost Company Royal Military Police 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment (27th (Inniskillings), 83rd, 87th and Ulster Defence Regiment)
Joint assets
National Support Element 102 Logistics Brigade - Brigadier Shaun Cowlam Headquarters 102 Logistics Brigade 2 Signal Regiment 36 Engineer Regiment 33 Field Hospital 34 Field Hospital 202 Field Hospital (Volunteer) 4 General Support Medical Regiment 3 Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers 6 Supply Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 7 Transport Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 17 Port and Maritime Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 23 Pioneer Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 24 Regiment Royal Logistics Corps 5 Regiment Royal Military Police Elements of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment
Joint Helicopter Force Headquarters 3 Regiment Army Air Corps Elements of 21 Signal Regiment (AS) Elements of No. 662 Squadron - Lynx AH7s and Gazelle AH1s
Operation Telic order of battle Elements of No. 663 Squadron - Lynx AH7s and Gazelle AH1s HMS Ark Royal 4 Sea King AsaC7s of Flight A 849 Naval Air Squadron 5 Chinook HC2s of No. 18 Squadron HMS Ocean 10 Sea King HC4s of 845 Naval Air Squadron 6 Gazelle AH1 of 847 Naval Air Squadron 6 Lynx AH7 of 847 Naval Air Squadron Chinook Wing No. 7 Squadron No. 18 Squadron No. 27 Squadron Puma Detachment No. 33 Squadron
Notes
It should be noted that when a battalion is referred to as a battlegroup, it is not purely made up of units from the parent unit, but is an integrated team, combining armoured units with tanks, and mechanised infantry with infantry fighting vehicles. Also, whilst 16 Air Assault Brigade is apparently the only fighting brigade listed with its own organic helicopter support in this order of battle, 3 Commando Brigade had the helicopters on board Ocean and Ark Royal to call upon, and 7th Armoured Brigade wasn't really air mobile as a formation. There were also the RAF Pumas and Chinooks mentioned above for transport purposes. Special Forces elements of the British Army (Special Air Service) and Royal Marines (Special Boat Service) where also deployed but as the British government policy is not to comment on special forces activity, the exact details or elements deployed are officially unconfirmed. The contribution of reservists to the deployment (some 9,500 of the 46,000 personnel involved in the warfighting phase and its immediate aftermath, the vast majority from the Territorial Army, and in significant number in the subsequent roulements) is understated by the order of battle, as the only units to deploy in their entirety were 202 Field Hospital (with augmentees from the other TAVR Field Hospitals), 131 Independent Commando Squadron of the Royal Engineers as well as A (Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry) Squadron and W (Westminster Dragoons) Squadron of the Royal Yeomanry. The remainder were augmentees, called up individually from their units (which therefore do not feature in the order of battle) and employed to bring many of the units listed above up to their war-fighting strength. Finally, 3 Commando Brigade had a United States Marine Corps unit, 15th MEU under its command in the initial stages of the war. This went back to American command around 25 March.
Roulements
1st Armoured Division remained in theatre, controlling UK ground forces until June 2003, when 3rd Mechanised Division's HQ arrived in theatre to take command of British forces. 3 Commando Brigade was the first of the combat units to return to the UK, followed by 16 Air Assault Brigade. 7 Armoured Brigade remained in theatre until they handed over to 19 Mechanised Brigade in June. In November and December 2003, a second rotation of British forces occurred, with 3rd Division's HQ being replaced by a composite divisional HQ. 19 Mechanised Brigade was replaced with 20 Armoured Brigade. April 2004 saw the third change of forces. 20 Armoured Brigade was relieved by 1 Mechanised Brigade, and a new senior British military officer, Lieutenant General John McColl arrived in theatre to become deputy commander of the occupation land forces. The end of October 2004 did see an important shift for the British forces. A battlegroup from the Black Watch deployed outside of the British area to Camp Dogwood south-west of Baghdad. This coincided with the next roulement of British forces, with 4 Armoured Brigade replacing 1 Mechanised Brigade.
Operation Telic order of battle 101 Logistics Brigade Headquarters and Signal Squadron 27 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 9 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 168 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 4 Regiment, Royal Military Police 33 Field Hospital Elements from 17 Port and Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements from 29 Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements from 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements from 1 Postal & Courier Service Group 15 Field Support Squadron Royal Engineers Op Telic 2 & 3 Maritime Contribution HMS Richmond (to July 2003) HMS Sutherland (July 2003-October 2003) HMS Norfolk (October 2003-March 2004) HMS Kent RFA Diligence
RFA Brambleleaf
National Support Element 4 General Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 22 Field Hospital Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) Elements of 1 Regiment, Royal Military Police Elements of 10 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps
Operation Telic order of battle Elements of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 17 Port & Maritime Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 23 Pioneer Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 24 Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 5 General Support Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps 15 Field Support Squadron Royal Engineers Roulemented by 45 Field Support Squadron January 2004 Maritime Contribution HMS Kent HMS Norfolk (October 2003-March 2004) HMS Grafton (March 2004-July 2004) RFA Bayleaf
National Support Element 8 Transport Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 207 (V) Field Hospital relieved in 2004 UK Medical Group 256 (City of London) Field Hospital (V) Close Support Squadron, Royal Army Medical Phoenix Battery, 32 Regiment, Royal Artillery Corps Elements of 33 Engineer Regiment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal)
Operation Telic order of battle Elements of 1 Regiment, Military Police Elements of 6 Supply Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 11 Explosive Ordnance Disposal Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 24 Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 29 Regiment, Royal Logistics Corps Elements of 1 General Support Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps Elements of 104 (V) Regiment, Royal Artillery Elements of 6 Battalion, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
Maritime Contribution HMS Grafton (March 2004-July 2004) HMS Somerset (July 2004-November 2004) HMS Echo RFA Bayleaf
Operation Telic order of battle Detachment of No. 14 Squadron RAF Detachment of No. 24 Squadron RAF Detachment of No. 30 Squadron RAF Detachment of No. 32 Squadron RAF Detachment of RAF Kinloss Nimrod MR2 Wing Joint Helicopter Force?Iraq No. 51 Squadron RAF Regiment
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Air Contribution Detachment of No. 10 Squadron RAF Detachment of No. 101 Squadron RAF Detachment of No. 14 Squadron RAF
Operation Telic order of battle Detachment of No. 24 Squadron RAF Detachment of No. 30 Squadron RAF Detachment of No. 32 Squadron RAF Detachment of RAF Kinloss Nimrod MR2 Wing Joint Helicopter Force?Iraq No. 34 Squadron RAF Regiment
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2nd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment 1st Battalion, The Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons) 1st Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 1st Battalion, The King's Own Royal Border Regiment 4th Battalion, The Parachute Regiment Cambrai Company The West Midlands Regiment Royal Welsh Regiment 1st Battalion, Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Margaret's Own Glasgow and Ayrshire Regiment) National Support Element 1st Battalion, The Royal Scots (The Royal Regiment) 2 Battalion, REME 2 Logistic Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps 29 Close Support Medical Squadron 35 Battery Royal Artillery Maritime Contribution HMS Campbeltown (August 2005-February 2006) HMS St Albans (February 2006-?) HMS Bulwark (February 2006-?)
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards The Queen's Royal Hussars 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards
Operation Telic order of battle 1st Battalion, The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment (Queen's and Royal Hampshires) 2nd Battalion, The Royal Anglian Regiment 1st Battalion, The Devonshire and Dorset Light Infantry 1st Battalion, The Light Infantry Lancastrian and Cumbrian Volunteers King's and Cheshire Regiment 3 Logistic Support Regiment, Royal Logistic Corps K (Hondeghem) Battery Royal Artillery
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2nd Royal Tank Regiment - EGYPT Sqn 1st Battalion, The Yorkshire Regiment (PWO) 2nd Battalion, The Duke of Lancaster's Regiment (King's Lancashire and Border) 1st Battalion, The Royal Green Jackets (renamed 2nd Battalion, The Rifles 1st Feb 2007) 1st Battalion, The Staffordshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's) 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers 2nd Battalion, The Light Infantry (renamed 3rd Battalion, The Rifles 1st Feb 2007) 19 Combat Service Support Battalion P Battery (The Dragon Troop) Royal Artillery (composite troop) L Troop Honourable Artillery Company
3rd Close Support Medical Regiment, Royal Army Medical Corps 158th Provost Company, 3rd Regiment, Royal Military Police
Operation Telic order of battle 22nd Battery, 32nd Regiment, Royal Artillery 34rd Field Hospital, Royal Army Medical Corps Sea Component HMS Cornwall HMS Enterprise RFA Bayleaf Two Mine Countermeasures vessels Contribution to the 60-man joint US-UK 'Naval Transition Team'
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Air Component 845 Naval Air Squadron (Sea King Mk 4) Detachment from 652 Squadron, Army Air Corps (Lynx) No. 1419 Flight RAF (Merlin) No. 1 Squadron RAF Regiment 4th Force Protection Wing No. 120 Squadron RAF/No. 201 Squadron RAF (Nimrod MR2) No. 51 Squadron RAF (Nimrod R1) 814 Naval Air Squadron (Merlin) No. 216 Squadron RAF (TriStar) No. 32 (The Royal) Squadron RAF (BAE125/BAE146) No. 617 Squadron RAF (Tornado GR4) No. 23 Squadron RAF/No. 30 Squadron RAF (C-130J Hercules) No. 101 Squadron RAF (VC10)
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References
[1] Canberra PR.9 by Brett Green (Xtrakit 1/72) (http:/ / www. hyperscale. com/ 2007/ reviews/ kits/ xtrakit004reviewbg_1. htm)
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License
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/